One of the better Kentucky Derby winners of the late 19th century, Plaudithad something of the nasty disposition which made his half brother Hastings infamous. He was about as attractive physically as he was in disposition but nonetheless was a consistent racehorse and a useful sire whose male line continues through Holy Bull and his sons and grandsons.

Race record

20starts, 8wins, 5seconds, 0thirds, US$32,065

1897:

Won Champagne Stakes (USA, 7FD, Morris Park)

Won Nursery Stakes (USA, 6FD, Jerome Park)

Won Emerald Stakes (USA, 5FD, Oakley)

2nd Dash S. (USA, Sheepshead Bay)

Also won an all-aged allowance race at 8.5 furlongs by a nose over 4-year-old Ben Brush, the American champion older male of that year

1898:

Won Kentucky Derby (USA, 10FD, Churchill Downs)

Won Buckeye Stakes (USA, 9FD, Oakley; by walkover)

Won Oakley Derby (USA, 10FD, Oakley)

Won Clark Stakes (USA, 9FD, Churchill Downs)

2nd Realization Stakes (USA, 13FD, Sheepshead Bay)

2nd St. Louis Derby (USA, 12FD, St. Louis)

2nd Latonia Derby (USA, 12FD, Latonia)

As an individual

A lightly-made, leggy brown horse, Plaudit had an ewe neck set on upright shoulders. His pasterns were long and upright, and the tendons of his forelegs were tied in below the knee. He also had sickle hocks. On the plus side, he was short-backed and short-coupled with muscular hindquarters.

As a stallion

Plaudit's stud career was hampered by his playing second fiddle to Madden's other stallions, which included Ogden, Sandringham, Yankee, and Star Shoot; at times, he was even farmed out to other studs. Nonetheless, he managed to rank three times among the top 10 American general sires, peaking at third in 1909. He tended to be an influence for speed and precocity although his best son, King James, stayed well. Clio Hogan's Index to Stakes Winners 1865-1967 credits him with 22 stakes winners.

Plaudit was bred and owned by Dr. J. D. Neet. He was trained at first by Ed "Brown Dick" Brown and was later trained by John E. Madden, who purchased the colt for US$6,500 following Plaudit's fourth-place finish in the Futurity Stakes. Madden sold the colt to William Collins Whitney for US$25,000 prior to the Realization Stakes but repurchased him for US$12,000 after Plaudit broke down in his next start after the Realization. Plaudit died in 1919 and was buried at Madden's Lexington farm, Hamburg Place.

Pedigree notes

Plaudit is inbred 5x4 to the great matron Pocahontas (assuming that Cinderella was indeed by Tomahawk; see Alternate Sires in Pedigrees). He is a half brother to the 1896Belmont Stakes winner, Hastings (by Spendthrift), and the juvenile stakes winners Handsome and Glenheim, both by Hanover. He is also a half brother to Slippers (by Meddler), dam of 1913 Preakness Stakes winner Buskin (by Hamburg) and juvenile stakes winner Slipshod (by Hamburg's son Burgomaster). Slippers is further distinguished as the second dam of five stakes winners including 1922 Coaching Club American Oaks winner Prudish and two-time American champion filly Prudery, dam of 1927 Kentucky Derby winner Whiskery and 1928 Preakness Stakes winner Victorian.

Fun facts

Although John Madden bred or co-bred five Kentucky Derby winners, not one of them carried his silks in the Derby; Plaudit, whom he purchased as a juvenile, was his only Derby winner as an owner.

Plaudit's son King Plaudit became a notable influence on early Quarter Horse and Appaloosa breeding.